Ohio ACTE continually introduces projects and programs aimed at benefiting, recognizing, and supporting career-technical educators at all levels of education. The list below showcases the current initiatives and scholarships.
To submit a nomination, kindly complete a separate online form for each nominee and each award. Keep in mind that new scholarships and opportunities may emerge periodically, so remember to check back for updates.
To submit a nomination, kindly complete a separate online form for each nominee and each award. Keep in mind that new scholarships and opportunities may emerge periodically, so remember to check back for updates.
Darrell Parks Student Scholarship & Workforce Award
Annually, Ohio ACTE bestows up to two Darrell Parks Student Scholarship and Workforce Awards, offering $1,000 each to support the educational or employment pursuits of career-technical graduates. In accordance with the wishes of Dr. Darrell Parks and his family, a committee comprising Ohio ACTE members will select the recipients for the 2025 scholarships.
Eligibility extends to any student currently enrolled in a career-technical program set to graduate in 2026 and intending to further their education or embark on a career path.
Dr. Darrell Parks, former Executive Director of the Ohio Association for Career and Technical Education (Ohio ACTE) and Career-Technical Education Director at the Ohio Department of Education, was a trailblazer in advancing vocational education and workforce development across Ohio. Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Parks championed initiatives to connect education with industry needs, ensuring students gained practical, relevant training for successful careers. His visionary leadership and steadfast advocacy helped expand career and technical education opportunities statewide, empowering countless students to achieve fulfilling careers. Dr. Parks’ legacy of innovation and commitment continues to inspire and shape Ohio’s educational landscape, encouraging future generations to pursue their passions and contribute meaningfully to society.
Eligibility extends to any student currently enrolled in a career-technical program set to graduate in 2026 and intending to further their education or embark on a career path.
Dr. Darrell Parks, former Executive Director of the Ohio Association for Career and Technical Education (Ohio ACTE) and Career-Technical Education Director at the Ohio Department of Education, was a trailblazer in advancing vocational education and workforce development across Ohio. Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Parks championed initiatives to connect education with industry needs, ensuring students gained practical, relevant training for successful careers. His visionary leadership and steadfast advocacy helped expand career and technical education opportunities statewide, empowering countless students to achieve fulfilling careers. Dr. Parks’ legacy of innovation and commitment continues to inspire and shape Ohio’s educational landscape, encouraging future generations to pursue their passions and contribute meaningfully to society.
Christine Gardner Memorial Grant
The Christine Gardner Memorial Grant is designed to support innovative teaching methods that enhance career-technical education outcomes and aims to award one-time grants to qualified federal tax-exempt entities dedicated to improving career-technical education outcomes.
About the Grant:
The Christine Gardner Memorial Grant aims to award one-time grants to qualified federal tax-exempt entities dedicated to improving career-technical education outcomes. This opportunity aligns with our collective mission to elevate teaching practices and contribute to the growth and success of career-technical education in our great state.
Eligibility:
We encourage you to take advantage of this unique opportunity to secure funding for your projects that will positively impact career-technical education in Ohio.
Christine Gardner, former Executive Director of the Ohio Association for Career and Technical Education (Ohio ACTE), was a dedicated leader in enhancing and promoting career-technical education across Ohio. Throughout her impactful tenure, Gardner worked tirelessly to elevate the value of CTE and forge vital connections between educators, industry leaders, and policymakers. Her innovative strategies and unwavering commitment to advancing career pathways empowered students with the skills and opportunities necessary for success in a rapidly changing workforce. Gardner’s legacy of collaboration, advocacy, and transformative leadership continues to influence Ohio’s CTE community, inspiring educators, students, and partners to build meaningful and sustainable career opportunities for generations to come.
About the Grant:
The Christine Gardner Memorial Grant aims to award one-time grants to qualified federal tax-exempt entities dedicated to improving career-technical education outcomes. This opportunity aligns with our collective mission to elevate teaching practices and contribute to the growth and success of career-technical education in our great state.
Eligibility:
- To be eligible, applicants must be current members of Ohio ACTE; your member identification number will be needed for the application. You can find your member identification number by logging into your account at www.ohioacte.org.
- Awardees must be available to share an outcomes presentation (live, virtual or prerecorded) at the 2026 ALL Ohio Conference, July 20-22, 2026.
- Review the required information here: CG_Grant Application Overview_2025
- Prepare your application materials, including a project proposal and budget.
- If applicable or required by your district, complete the Administrator Signature Page CG_Signature Page_2025. You will upload as the last application item.
- Submit your application via this Google Form 2025_CG Memorial Grant by March 31, 2025.
- Grant Amount: up to $2,500
- Grants to be awarded: 2
- Purpose: Improving career-technical education outcomes through innovative teaching methods.
We encourage you to take advantage of this unique opportunity to secure funding for your projects that will positively impact career-technical education in Ohio.
Christine Gardner, former Executive Director of the Ohio Association for Career and Technical Education (Ohio ACTE), was a dedicated leader in enhancing and promoting career-technical education across Ohio. Throughout her impactful tenure, Gardner worked tirelessly to elevate the value of CTE and forge vital connections between educators, industry leaders, and policymakers. Her innovative strategies and unwavering commitment to advancing career pathways empowered students with the skills and opportunities necessary for success in a rapidly changing workforce. Gardner’s legacy of collaboration, advocacy, and transformative leadership continues to influence Ohio’s CTE community, inspiring educators, students, and partners to build meaningful and sustainable career opportunities for generations to come.
U.S. Presidential Scholars
Ohio ACTE, in collaboration with the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, is proud to announce the nomination process for the 2025 U.S. Presidential Scholars in Career and Technical Education. This prestigious program recognizes graduating high school seniors who demonstrate excellence in academic achievement, technical competence, leadership, service, and creativity.
Career-Tech Excellence Awards: Recognizing Ohio ACTE Educators
Each year, Ohio ACTE recognizes members of our career-tech community with the following awards:
Teacher of the Year: This award recognizes the finest career and technical teachers at the middle/secondary school level who have demonstrated innovation in the classroom, commitment to their students and dedication to the improvement of CTE in their institutions and communities.
New Teacher of the Year: This award recognizes new CTE teachers who have made significant contributions toward innovative and unique career and technical education programs and shown a professional commitment early in their careers.
Teacher Educator of the Year: This award recognizes teacher educators, secondary or postsecondary, who are committed to preparing teachers to deliver high quality CTE programs, demonstrated innovation in teacher education, and leadership in improving CTE. Please note this is NOT the Teacher of the Year category.
Administrator of the Year: This award recognizes administrative CTE professionals at the school, district, county, state or federal level who have demonstrated leadership in ensuring teacher and student success and have made significant contributions toward innovative, unique and effective career and technical education programs.
Post-Secondary Professional of the Year: This award recognizes the finest career and technical professionals at the postsecondary level who have instructed and educated students involved in career and technical education pathways, demonstrated innovation in the classroom, and exhibited dedication to the improvement of CTE in their institutions and communities.
Counseling & Career Development Professional Award: This award recognizes school counselors and career development professionals who have demonstrated commitment to connecting students with opportunities for success, shown innovation in career exploration and development, and have advocated for CTE as a viable option for all students.
Outstanding School Board Member (non-educators eligible): This award recognizes a duly elected or appointed board member who has made the highest meritorious contributions to the improvement, promotion, development and governance of career-technical and adult education in Ohio.
Carl Perkins Community Service Award: This award recognizes individuals who have used CTE to make a significant impact on their community and demonstrated leadership in programs and activities that promote student involvement in community service. This award was formerly Outstanding Educator in Community Service.
Business Image Award (non-educators eligible): This award recognizes individuals who have brought positive attention to the career-technical and adult education fields, thereby enhancing the image of career-technical and adult education and career and technical educators.
Ambassador Award: This award recognizes CTE staff who significantly contribute to their schools through their service in a non-educator role and who have made the highest meritorious contributions to the improvement, promotion, development and/or progress of Career and Technical Education. This includes (but is not limited to) technology; communications (Public Relations); and support staff.
Lifetime Achievement Award: This award recognizes CTE professionals for their leadership on behalf of ACTE, their innovations in CTE and their contributions to the field over an extended period of time.
Teacher of the Year: This award recognizes the finest career and technical teachers at the middle/secondary school level who have demonstrated innovation in the classroom, commitment to their students and dedication to the improvement of CTE in their institutions and communities.
New Teacher of the Year: This award recognizes new CTE teachers who have made significant contributions toward innovative and unique career and technical education programs and shown a professional commitment early in their careers.
Teacher Educator of the Year: This award recognizes teacher educators, secondary or postsecondary, who are committed to preparing teachers to deliver high quality CTE programs, demonstrated innovation in teacher education, and leadership in improving CTE. Please note this is NOT the Teacher of the Year category.
Administrator of the Year: This award recognizes administrative CTE professionals at the school, district, county, state or federal level who have demonstrated leadership in ensuring teacher and student success and have made significant contributions toward innovative, unique and effective career and technical education programs.
Post-Secondary Professional of the Year: This award recognizes the finest career and technical professionals at the postsecondary level who have instructed and educated students involved in career and technical education pathways, demonstrated innovation in the classroom, and exhibited dedication to the improvement of CTE in their institutions and communities.
Counseling & Career Development Professional Award: This award recognizes school counselors and career development professionals who have demonstrated commitment to connecting students with opportunities for success, shown innovation in career exploration and development, and have advocated for CTE as a viable option for all students.
Outstanding School Board Member (non-educators eligible): This award recognizes a duly elected or appointed board member who has made the highest meritorious contributions to the improvement, promotion, development and governance of career-technical and adult education in Ohio.
Carl Perkins Community Service Award: This award recognizes individuals who have used CTE to make a significant impact on their community and demonstrated leadership in programs and activities that promote student involvement in community service. This award was formerly Outstanding Educator in Community Service.
Business Image Award (non-educators eligible): This award recognizes individuals who have brought positive attention to the career-technical and adult education fields, thereby enhancing the image of career-technical and adult education and career and technical educators.
Ambassador Award: This award recognizes CTE staff who significantly contribute to their schools through their service in a non-educator role and who have made the highest meritorious contributions to the improvement, promotion, development and/or progress of Career and Technical Education. This includes (but is not limited to) technology; communications (Public Relations); and support staff.
Lifetime Achievement Award: This award recognizes CTE professionals for their leadership on behalf of ACTE, their innovations in CTE and their contributions to the field over an extended period of time.
